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The Post Office Café is readying for what has become a huge day every year for Babylon Village.
The Lessing’s Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the restaurant, will be hosting its 27th Annual Race for MPS on Saturday, Oct. 20.
All proceeds go to the nonprofit MPS Society. Last year, the race raised a whopping $37,000.
MPS, or Mucopolysaccharidoses, is an often-fatal genetic disease in children, which prevents the production of specific enzymes that help strengthen the body.
Around 1 in 25,000 children are born with MPS or similar strands of the genetic disorder, according to the MPS Society.
As of now, there is no cure.
That’s what has driven the Lessing family and others to help.
“It has been a very personal race for me,” said company’s executive vice president, Mark Lessing, who lost two children, Mark and Casey, to the disorder. They were a year apart in age. Mark died on Nov. 1, 2010, at 20 years old. Casey died on July 4, 2016, at 24 years old.
The race’s 3.1-mile course is described as “fast, flat, and scenic” by the event organizers. The running begins in the heart of Babylon Village, continues to the Great South Bay, and finishes off at the Post Office.
There will also be a 1K fun run for the kiddies.
Awards will be handed out to the top three male and female racers. Other awards will be given to the top three runners in eleven different age groups.
There will also be a special award handed to the first male and female to cross the finish line. Afterward, the race is celebrated with an open bar for the neighborhood.
Pre-Race party
As a tradition, The Post Office Café hosts a pre-race party, where runners will pick up their shirts and bibs. The event, held on Friday, Oct. 19, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., will feature a complimentary buffet and drink on the house.
race registration
To sign up for the race, participants can register online, or by mail by printing the application and mailing to Post Office Café, 130 West Main Street, Babylon, NY 11702.
Online registration closes on Thursday, Oct. 19, at midnight.
If you sign-up prior to Oct. 7, the cost will be $13 for the fun run and $25 for the 5K. The cost to register after Oct. 7 is $15 for the fun run and $30 for the 5K. Registration and check-ins begin at 8 a.m. at The Post Office Café.
If you can’t make it, you can donate here. Top: Courtesy photo from last year’s race.
2017 Photos:
20 Photos: Scenes from the 26th annual Post Office 5K race to end MPS
